Single-Track Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging via Overlapping Excitation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound imaging techniques for determining mechanical properties of samples using shear waves require significant signal processing overhead and are limited by resolution and noise, particularly in estimating shear wave speeds and stiffness of tissues.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating shear waves with overlapping excitation pulses and tracking pulses outside the target region, using linear regression and median operations to determine mechanical parameters like shear wave speed, and creating 2D or 3D images by processing sub-regions defined by depth, lateral, and elevational positions, reducing noise and improving resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional SWEI techniques use multiple spatial locations for tracking shear waves, then measurement precision of shear wave speed is improved, but device complexity and signal processing overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tracking function from multiple spatial locations and concentrates it to a single tracking location. By using multiple excitation positions around one fixed tracking location, the system achieves shear wave speed measurement without the complexity of coordinating multiple tracking sensors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through mathematical reconstruction of wave propagation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The single tracking location serves multiple functions: it tracks shear waves from different excitation positions, measures displacement time-series data, and enables reconstruction of shear wave speed maps across the target region. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate tracking systems at each spatial location, significantly reducing device complexity and signal processing overhead.
2Reliability
If traditional SWEI uses sparse displacement fields with multiple recording locations, then reliability of shear wave speed estimation is improved, but loss of time and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring complete displacement time-series data at the single tracking location before reconstruction. All necessary information from multiple excitation positions is captured in advance, allowing subsequent shear wave speed estimation to be performed efficiently without repeated measurements or complex real-time processing at multiple locations, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If SWEI tracks shear waves at multiple spatial locations, then manufacturing precision of shear wave speed maps is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single tracking location acts as an intermediary that captures displacement information from shear waves generated at multiple excitation positions. Through mathematical processing of this intermediate data, the system reconstructs precise shear wave speed maps across the target region without requiring complex multi-location tracking hardware, thereby achieving manufacturing precision with simplified device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the accuracy and resolution of shear wave imaging, reducing speckle noise and artifacts, allowing for precise measurement of mechanical properties in tissues and materials, improving the visualization of lesions and characterization of tissue stiffness.
Implementation Method 1
Acoustic Radiation Force (ARF) shear wave elasticity imaging methods typically use a transverse propagation velocity of mechanical shear waves in materials to estimate mechanical properties of a sample
Implementation Method 2
receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the tracking region
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region using shear wave displacement are provided. The method includes a) generating at least one shear wave with an excitation pulse in the target region at an excitation position; b) transmitting tracking pulses in a tracking region, at least a portion of which is outside the target region; c) receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the tracking region; d) repeating steps A through C for one or more additional excitation positions within the target region, wherein at least two of the excitation pulses overlap and the tracking region associated with each excitation position overlaps with the tracking region associated with at least one other excitation position; and e) determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on at least one parameter of a shear wave displacement.